European title fight for Punching Poet

Poster for the biggest fight of Matt Windle’s career

YOU heard it here first…

Matt Windle, professional poet by day, champion boxer by night, has clinched the biggest fight of his career.

The 32-year-old, from Birmingham, will face Connor Butler for the EBU European flyweight title at Liverpool Olympia on June 9.

Butler’s Commonwealth belt will also be on the line.

It’s a massive fight – and Windle has earned it. He’s twice been outpointed in Midlands title fights I had him winning, beaten real iron in Neil McCubbin and fought valiantly for the Lonsdale Belt at flyweight.

The heartbreak losses have, at times, led Matt to question his future in the game, but he’s plugged on. At an age when most men in boxing’s lightest divisions are looking to hang up their gloves, his career is blossoming.

As the man himself put it today: British, Commonwealth and European title fights in my career – who would’ve thought it?”

Bright and articulate, he’s a superb ambassador for the sport.

It means a move-up for Windle who holds the Commonwealth crown at light-flyweight, but the gamble is a shrewd move by Matt and the McCrackens who guide him.

Win or lose, Windle will not lose the title he took last October by stopping South African Siphelele Myeza.

He said: “If I win, I’ve been told I have days to decide if I relinquish the light-flyweight title.”

He also added: “Light-flyweight is where I perform best.”

In Liverpool’s Butler, Windle faces an accomplished fighter who is unbeaten in 11. In February he took the vacant Commonwealth flyweight title by outpointing Craig Derbyshire.

The one draw on his slate is a very minor blemish. Back in 2019, his bout with Steven Maguire was stopped after Maguire suffered a cut following a head clash.

There’s nothing to suggest Butler carries knockout power, with only one opponent stopped.